No. 205 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. 205 Squadron RAF
No. 205 Sqn badge
Active	2 Aug 1915 (RNAS) – Oct 1915 31 Dec 1916 – 1 Apr 1918 1 Apr 1918 (RAF) – 22 Jan 1920 15 Apr 1920 – 1 Apr 1923 8 Jan 1929 – 31 Mar 1942 23 Jul 1942 – 31 Oct 1971
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Maritime Reconnaissance
Motto(s)	Malay: Pertama di Malaya ("First in Malaya")
Commanders
Notable commanders	H M Cave-Browne-Cave
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A kris and a trident in saltire The badge points to two aspects of the squadron's history, the trident referring to its RNAS origins and the kris to its association with Malaya
Squadron Codes	KM (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939 Allocated, no confirmation of use) FV (Sep 1939 – Mar 1942)

No. 205 Squadron was a special unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was created on April 1, 1918. Before that, it was known as No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). In 1929, it made history by becoming the first RAF squadron to be based in Singapore all the time. Its motto was Pertama di Malaya, which means "First in Malaya." No. 205 Squadron played a role in both World War II and the Cold War. It stopped operating on October 31, 1971.

History of No. 205 Squadron

Starting Out and World War I Missions

No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) began on August 2, 1915. It was formed in Dover, England. This squadron was made from parts of No. 4 Squadron RNAS. However, in October 1915, No. 5 Squadron was combined with RNAS Dover. So, it stopped existing on its own for a short time.

On December 31, 1916, the squadron was restarted. It was called No. 5 (Naval) Squadron. This unit flew Sopwith 1½ Strutter planes. They carried out bombing missions. Their targets included ports in Belgium and German airfields. In August 1917, the squadron received new planes called DH.4s.

In February 1918, No. 5 (Naval) Squadron joined the 5th Brigade of the Royal Flying Corps. On April 1, 1918, it officially became part of the new Royal Air Force. It was renamed No. 205 Squadron RAF. The squadron continued its missions, attacking ports and German airfields. This continued until the end of the war. In September 1918, they got even newer planes, the DH.9As. Some famous pilots, known as "aces," flew with this squadron. These included Euan Dickson, Charles Bartlett, and Walter Naylor.

Between the World Wars

A Short Singapore Mark III flying boat from No. 205 Squadron. It is flying below three groups of Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers from No. 100 Squadron. Both units were based at RAF Seletar.

After World War I, the squadron moved to Belgium. Then, in March 1919, it moved to Hucknall Airfield in England. Here, it was reduced in size. The squadron was officially stopped on January 22, 1920.

But it didn't stay gone for long! No. 205 Squadron was reformed on April 15, 1920, at RAF Leuchars. This time, it worked as a fighter-reconnaissance unit. They used Parnall Panther planes. The squadron was stopped again on April 1, 1923. It was then renamed No. 441 Flight.

The squadron was reformed once more on January 8, 1929. This happened when the RAF's Far East Flight was renamed No. 205 Squadron. This was a big deal because it became the first RAF squadron to be based in Singapore permanently. They flew Supermarine Southampton planes to explore and map areas. In April 1935, they got new planes called Short Singapores. From 1929 to 1930, Group Captain H M Cave-Browne-Cave was the squadron's commander. He had led the Far East Flight before.

No. 205 Squadron in World War II

Consolidated Catalina Mark I planes from No. 205 Squadron RAF. They are being worked on in their hangar at RAF Seletar, Singapore. You can see one of the squadron's older Short Singapore Mark III biplane flying boats in the background.

When World War II began, No. 205 Squadron flew patrols. They watched over the areas around Singapore and the Indian Ocean. They used bases in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and the Nicobar Islands as outposts. In 1941, they received new PBY Catalina planes.

The squadron then moved from Singapore to Java. They left three planes behind at Selatar Air Base. One of 205 Squadron's Catalinas was the first Allied plane to be attacked by Japan in the war. Japanese reports later showed that Flying Officer Edwin Beddell's Catalina saw the Japanese invasion fleet. It was approaching Northern Malaya. His plane was attacked by a float plane, which likely damaged his radio. Soon after, five Ki-27 planes attacked Beddell's plane and shot it down. The Japanese report said the Catalina exploded 400 feet above the sea.

When Japanese forces invaded Java, the squadron moved to the south of the island. Then they went to Australia. The squadron was stopped on March 31, 1942.

But it was reformed again in Ceylon on July 23, 1942. The squadron's Catalinas flew anti-submarine patrols. They also performed air-sea rescue missions. They operated from Koggala for the rest of the war.

The Cold War Era

A Short Sunderland plane from No. 205 Squadron RAF. It is at the ramp of RAF Seletar. These planes were later replaced by the Avro Shackleton.

No. 205 Squadron continued to fly Catalina planes from Koggala until 1949. Then, they received new planes called Sunderland Vs. They moved back to Seletar, Singapore. In 1950 and 1951, a small group of planes was based in Iwakuni, Japan. They patrolled along the Korean coast.

Other small groups were also based at RAF Trincomalee, RAF Kai Tak, and RAF Changi. The squadron's main office moved to Changi in March 1959. They left some Sunderland planes at Seletar. The unit then started to change to land-based maritime patrol operations. They were equipped with Avro Shackleton planes. On May 15, 1959, the squadron flew the RAF's last Sunderland mission from RAF Seletar, Singapore. No. 205 Squadron continued flying Shackleton patrols until it was stopped on October 31, 1971.

Aircraft Operated by No. 205 Squadron

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Cathay Pacific VR-HEU